TRACKSPEED1 FLY OUT OF THE BLOCKS

Trackspeed1 sprinters opened their 2011 account in style on Sunday (9th January) with a host of lifetime best performances in the opening indoor meetings of the year.


Every athlete bar two at the South of England 400m Championships, held at Lee Valley Athletic Centre, clocked lifetime best performances, giving coach John Powell a huge boost after the frustrations of both David Bolarinwa and Tunde Judun suffered hamstring injuries midweek.

Star of the show was Lawrence Wooldridge, whose senior men's 400m final time of 48.72 shattered his previous best of over 50 seconds indoors, and came close to his outdoor best mark of 48.2.  He finished fourth in a final that would have featured training partner Mark Brown, who decided against running after a 48.91s semi-final triggered niggles he didn't want to risk.

Omari Carr-Miller struck gold in the under-17 Men's 400m final at Lee Valley.

Sixteen-year-old Croydon Harrier Omari Carr-Miller struck gold in the under-17 400m with three convincing winning performances in heat, semi and final.  He clocked 52.47 in the heat, 51.51s in the semi-final, and won the title with a fine 51.00s run. although coach John Powell, hot-foot from his Charlton team's FA Cup defeat a mile up the road, was critical of his athlete's first lap:

"I would have liked to see "Omari get out alot faster," he said, " because he had it all to do on the back straight on lap two.  We've had a chat about fitness levels recently, an this just shows what he could achieve if he engaged with the gym side of training properly.  Omari is a real talent, but he has got to shake hands with hard work before he can expect to rub shoulders with the best around."

Elsewhere, 200m specialist Jason Hussain ran a creditable 50.65s 400m heat, although faded slightly in the semi to record 51.97, while Edmond Amaning timed 51.44s to finish third in his heat and qualify for the semi's.  He decided against competing further however, with a hamstring niggle.

In an open meeting at Windsor, Trackspeed1's Samuel Adeyemi recorded two 7.20s 60m sprints to shave further fractions off another personal best, although his specialist distance is 400m, with the Windsor outing merely an exercise to polish up on basic speed.

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell was cautiously optimistic of his charges' prospects this winter:

"We suffered bad blows midweek," he said, "with both David and Tunde pulling hamstrings in circumstances that were entirely avoidable - I only hope that they learn from the experience!  I don't think Tunde will be running indoors this year, although David might make the agegroup nationals at the end of February if we can get him fit for at least one race before that, but I'll lose no sleep if he doesn't take part as I'd rather he was in shape for summer!

"The performances at Lee Valley were encouraging though.  Lawrence proved just what hard work can achieve, and underlined the total belief I have had in him as a really class act who hasn't come close to his real potential yet due to various reasons.  Omari ran well, although has much to learn about race tactics, and really must get into gym training after the indoor events conclude."

Next weekend (15/16th January) the rest of the squad spring into action, with the highlight of the second South of England Championship weekend centred around sprinters Dwayne Grant, James Ellington and Danny Doyley, with Jason Hussain again in action, along with Lawrence Wooldridge, Mark Brown and the squad's potential dark horse this year in the junior age-groups, Omardo Anson.

"Even without David and Tunde we have much to look forward to this winter," John continued, and anyone with a Trackspeed1 athlete in their heat next weekend will have good reason to be anxious!"